Page 47 of Cage Me

Dropping to my knees, I lean forward, digging my fingers into the earth beneath me, and throw my head back. My roar comes from deep within and the longer I make the guttural sound, the less the fire burns.

“Again, Drake!” the witch yells above my screams.

My rumbles are so loud that the ground under me begins to shake along with the rest of me, and my bones are aching from the weight of the curse that clings to every inch of me.

I couldn’t pinpoint the darkness before, but with the lightness of Natalia’s spell, the shadows stand out starkly within my mind, making me want to vomit.

“You’re almost there,” Natalia says calmer. “Just focus on what your heart wants.”

Instantly, I see the peaceful face of Spencer sleeping beside me. I may have only had one night with her, but there’s no doubt in my mind that my heart will never need anything ever again besides her.

My mate’s eyes flutter open in my mind, and when she smiles up at me, the world melts away. There’s no more agony within me, there’s only her.

Until I realize that’s only my imagination.

The fire within me changes, the burning stops and is replaced by an itching along my skin that reaches my bones until I feel like I’m coming out of my skin.

“Shift!” Natalia commands, and the memories of my wolf return to me.

This isn’t pain, this is power.

My wolf. He’s here and not just a flicker of my inner beast. The full force of his energy is wrapping around me and pushing outward. I can’t hold back any longer, and when I let him come forward, it’s as if my body explodes to the point of never being able to come back together again.

Screams echo around me, but I can’t tell where they’re coming from. The world is black, and I can’t feel anything other than pure anguish. No part of me is whole anymore. I can’t even feel the connection to Spencer that I’ve been blocking out.

Fuck! Spencer.

Panic takes the last of the breath I manage to inhale, and another deep roar leaves from somewhere within my body that I still can’t quite feel until there’s something lashing out at me, sending shockwaves through me.

My sensations slowly come back to me, and when I can open my eyes again, I’m still on all fours, but this time, there are paws beneath me instead of my arms and legs.

I search for my mate, both in person and inside me. As soon as my wolf’s eyes land on hers, we see tears streaking down her cheeks and her fists are resting against the shimmering shield meant to keep her safe.

Taking a deep breath, I draw on the bond I know is somewhere, yet hiding from me.

You shouldn’t have done that, a woman’s voice I won’t soon forget echoes through my mind. I’m going to find that little bitch of yours, and I’m going to force you to watch as I cut her body to pieces, inch by inch.

You won’t lay a hand on her, I snarl back to Kel. Killing her can’t happen soon enough.

She cackles, and the sound makes me want to vomit. I’ll do whatever I damn well please. You have no idea who I am.

I know you’re the creation of a demon, I snap back. An impure witch who should have died along with the rest of her coven.

There’s a brief quietness, and it’s almost as if I can feel her slithering around my mind. You’re going to regret ever saying that.

And then there’s nothing.

Kel’s presence is gone and, in the next beat, it’s replaced by the thrum of the bond I have with Spencer.

My wolf’s growls grow louder, and his teeth snap. He needs blood, and not just any blood. That fucking witch’s.

Chapter 19

SPENCER

What in the fucking fuck was that? My heart is still racing, and every part of me trembles with mixed emotions—mostly fear with heavy doses of fury weaved through.

Watching Drake be consumed with agony hurt me more than I expected. All I wanted to do was jump through that barrier Natalia set up and relieve him of whatever he was going through. Then, when his body began shaking to the point he started to disappear right before my eyes, I lost my damned mind.

---